Abstract

In this study, the ability of the nonselective adenosine receptor antagonist caffeine to influence the concentration of noradrenaline in the central nervous system was investigated, and its effects compared with those of alpha-2 adrenoceptor modulation. The technique of microdialysis in association with microbore high-performance liquid chromatography and electrochemical detection was used to measure the extracellular concentrations of noradrenaline in the hippocampus of awake, freely moving rats. Neither the oral administration of caffeine nor its local perfusion influenced the base-line hippocampal levels of noradrenaline. Furthermore, the levels of noradrenaline were not influenced by local perfusion of the selective adenosine A1 agonist N6-cyclopentyladenosine or by the selective adenosine A2 agonist CGS 21680. In contrast, the extracellular levels of noradrenaline could be increased by the perfusion of the selectivealpha-2 adrenoceptor antagonist idazoxan and decreased by local perfusion of Ca++-free phosphate buffered saline, a Na+-channel blocker, tetrodotoxin, or the selective α2-adrenoceptor agonist clonidine. The extracellular levels of noradrenaline were stimulated by the local perfusion of different concentrations of K+ (10–100 mmol/l). The K+-dependent increase in the extracellular levels of noradrenaline was potentiated by local perfusion of idazoxan and inhibited by local perfusion of clonidine. In contrast, neither the oral administration of caffeine nor its local perfusion influenced the K+-stimulated increases in hippocampal noradrenaline. Furthermore, local perfusion of N6-cyclopentyladenosine or CGS 21680 did not influence the K+-stimulated levels of noradrenaline either. These results indicate that base-line and K+-stimulated extracellular levels of noradrenaline in the hippocampus of awake, freely moving rats are regulated byalpha-2 adrenoceptors and not by adenosine receptors.